The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-16
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
A TRAVELLERS NOTES WHILE IN
THE HAWAIIAN GROUP.

Customs-Food Products.
The Hawaiian islands are the most ocean
isolated portion of the inhabited globe. They
constitute group of eight inhabited and four
uninhabited islands. They are situated in
the Pacific ocean in latitude - degs. to 20
dogs. north, and longitude 10 degs. to lOO
degs. west. From Honolulu the capital and
principal city Of the group, located on the
island of Oahu, tho distance to San Francisco
lin round numbers) is 2,l00 miles; to Yoko-
homa, Japan, 3,4OO; to Hong Kong, China,
1900, and to Sydney, Australia, 1900
The names and area of the inhabited islands
are Hawaii, 4,2UO square miles; Maui, go;
Ouhu, 600; Kauai, $780, Molokai, go; Lauai,
$50; Kahoolawe, IS, and Nihau, 97-Hawaii
being nearly double the area of all the other
islands combined. They are clearly volcanic
in their origin, the most western island, in the
opinion of geoloPi5ts, having been first thrown
| up, then the one next east of it, and, follow
| ing in order, TO Hawaii, the most eastern,
which is to-day in an unfinished state, power
full volcanic forces being still actively at work
there.
Though within the tOrrid cone, the climate
is temperate rather than tropical. am told
there is no word in the native language eX-
Dressive Of the illea of weather, evidence that
extremes of heat and cold are unknown.
During ten years at Honolulu the highest and
lowest temperatures in the shade, according
to published official record were 80 degs and
So dogs, the greatest change within twenty
four hours being II degs AS the islands are
mountainous, rising i'll the interior to an
elevation of 5000, 5000, 1900, and Mauna
kea in Hawaii to 1000 feet, every kind of
climate may be found, from that of perpetual
summer TO that of eternal winte. The trade
winds blow nine months of the year, temper
ing the heat and imparting freshness and
salubrity to the atmosphere Of the lowldnd
along the coast. The climate is claimed to >
very healthful. There are heavy rainfsJs
during certain months of the year-mVGh
heavier on the windward tnan on the lcew ard
side of the islands. At Hilo on the east coast
of Hawaii, it is said eighteen feet of rain have
fallen in n single year.
The soil Is decomposed lava and sand, and
is generally thin and poor. In the valleys
and plains along the base of the mountains
whose diSintegration and accumulation Of
vegetable mold have gone on for ages, there
are tracts of great fertility. Here the sugar
cane hourishes and extensive plantations are
devoted exclusively to its growth. The rugar
industry is the principal agricultural interest
Of the islands, rice standing second. Fine
pasturage is abundant, and large herds of
cattle, horses, sheep and goats are bred and
fattened in the upland valleys. On the
higher slopes of Hawaii wild horses, cattle
and hogs abound, and here adventurous
sportsmen find occupation and excitement in
hunting them. These horses and cattle are
the descendants of those brought here by
Europeans, which from time to time have es
capped, and have rapidly multiplied; but the
hogs are Indigenous. There are extensive
forest, but the most valuable timber, sandal
wood, once abundant, has become almost en-
tirely exhausted Fruits of great variety and
excellence grow spontaneously. Among these
are the banana, plantain, cocoanut candle
nut, bread fruit, guava, pineapple, orange,
lemon, lime, mango, papia and many Others.
Sweet potatoes, yams beans, peas and other
garden vegetables flourish. Strawberries are
plentiful and cheap. We have had them
served on our table every morning during the
ten weeks we have been here.
The most important articles of food for the
natives is taro 1t is tuber resembling some
what in form the beet 1t grows in both dry
ullNA Ntb sui, 10 vel plOallI, 10 pItpllcu lOI
table in a variety of ways, and is the staple
food for all classes From it is made the ma
tional dish, par excellence, poi, which consti
!utes fully four-tifths the support of the Haw
aiians. 1t is said that forty feet square of
land planted with taro will afford subsistence
for one person whole year; and a square
mile will feed II, 427 persons tho same length
If time.
The Hawaiians belong to the Malayo-Poly
nesian race, They are Of light brown COM
plexion, have broad faces. prominent lips,
fiat noses full chins, with straight, black hair
and light boards. They are of good size, are
well formed, quick in movement, and gener-
ally muscular and strong. They are said to
be very fond of stimulants, and when oppor-
.unity offers often drink to excess; but they
are rarely quarrelsome even under the in
fuence of liquor They are good natured,
light hearted, careless, indolent, pleasure low |
ing people are imProvident, thoughtless about |
the future, and generous to a fault. They |
are very sympathetic and kind, are capable |
Of warm friendships and strong attachments. |
They are gregarious, great takers, and much |
given to all social pleasures-music, dancing, |
feasting, etc.
Few of them possess wealth, few are poor
and none are beggars. They are said for
merly to have been extremely licentious, nor |
are their morals, in this particular, OF tho |
best even now They love gay colors, and
are much given to decorating themselves with |
wreaths and garandS OF flowers. Many of |
the women are stout, inclining to corpulency, |
which is poorly concealed by the dress uni |
versally worn by them, the holoka, garment |
at one time much favored by certain Ameri- |
can women, and known as the Mother Hub
bard" Leprosy prevails, and tho govern
ment has established settlement on the |
Island of Molokai, to which all the unfortu-
nate class are banished. Tho settlement |
numbers about 900 souls.
Nearly all Hawaiians can read and write. |
There are good government schools, with free |
compulsory education. In the common
schools instruction is given in the native |
language, but in tho higher grades English is
taught. Under the teachings and influence |
of the missionaries large numbers were early
converted to Christianity. They are still |
liberal supporters of the gospel. The princi-
pal churches ore the Congregational Baptist |
and Catholic.-Cor. Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette.
a Question OF Manners